The Time Cavern

by Todd A. Fonseca

Book Overview

The Mystery began a hundred years ago. It was never solved. Now its happening again. ABOUT THE BOOK When ten-year-old Aaron moved from the big city to the country, he thought it was a boring sleepy... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0982514514
• ISBN13: 9780982514511
• Release Date: October 2009
• Publisher: Ridan Publishing
• Length: 214 Pages
• Weight: 0.85 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.5" x 6.0" x 9.0"

Customer Reviews

I just loved this story

I know that this is a book recommended for 9-12 year olds, I'm an adult, and I thoroughly enjoyed every page of this story. Not just from trying to appreciate it from a young person's perspective, but simply as a reader. The author, Todd Fonseca, has a wonderful gift for storytelling and he obviously put a lot of love into crafting this tale and bringing his characters to life. They seem as real as any characters I've ever read. There are many touching moments; the author has a perfect grasp of the dynamics within a young family and the motivations and thoughts of a young boy pushing the boundaries to gain some independence and his desire to explore his new surroundings. The plot of The Time Cavern is very engaging and had me rapidly turning pages eager to get to the core of the mystery presented. The young protagonists stumble across the story of an Amish child who went missing a hundred years ago, and find clues that might relate to the missing boy. Some spooky and supernatural events lead them to a strange place that they cannot resist investigating. What unfolds is an enticing, exciting, slightly scary secret place that is at once highly advanced and possibly otherwordly. The Time Cavern is a wonderful adventure story that allows the reader to really feel for and identify with the characters. I can certainly remember what it was like to be that age, eager to explore, my mind rife with imagination. The mystery of The Time Cavern is clever, well-thought out, nicely researched in its details, and leaves me wanting more. I would love to read more of this story, so I hope a sequel will be forthcoming. Very well-written & highly recommended to readers of all ages! Rai Aren, co-author of Secret of the Sands

Imaginative, Clever, Well-paced and Memorable!

Imagine this: You're a ten-year-old boy with a vivid imagination. You've lived in the city all your life and now, because of your parent's desire for a simpler life, you find yourself in unfamiliar, and somewhat strange, territory: an Amish farming community. Now toss this into the mix: Your first camp-out by yourself; mysterious noises in the night; the sound of the wind literally calling your name; an old diary and some odd mechanical devices in an old trunk found in the barn; a rumor about an Amish boy who once lived in your house a hundred years ago but who went missing and was never found. Then you meet an Amish girl about your age and she tells you the house you just moved into is haunted. C'mon! What's not to like? This is a great set up for what becomes a terrific story that builds to an exciting tale of discovery fraught with hurdles that the two young adventurers must overcome in order to fulfil their quest to discover the secret of the Time Cavern and the missing Amish boy. Not only will young readers find themselves engrossed in a great mystery/adventure but Fonseca has seen to it that they will learn a lot along the way. The cool thing is how Fonseca manages to blend the "educational" elements of the story so seamlessly that it doesn't interrupt the flow of the tale being told. It simply becomes part of the story. Young readers will be introduced to the way people of other cultures think and live and they'll also get some lessons in basic chemistry and astronomy to boot. I'm a few decades beyond the intended age group for this book but talk about time travel: While reading The Time Cavern I was totally transported back to my childhood when I was an avid reader of both the Hardy Boys mystery series and, yes, even the Nancy Drew mysteries. Those books were great back then and Fonseca has captured the essence of what made those books great and has brought that essence forward in time for today's young readers. Fonseca is definitely off to a running start with this one. I must include this final thought: If I had read this book when I was 10 or 12 years old I guarantee it would be one that I would still remember today. Review by Gary Val Tenuta Author of The Ezekiel Code "2012 is coming...The clock is ticking...The code must be deciphered...And only one man can save the planet...If he can just figure out how...Before it's too late."

Discover the next big thing in young adult literature with "The Time Cavern"

Young adult literature is a very tricky trail to traverse. The rare greats - such as the Harry Potter series - can transcend its target audience. Todd A Fonseca's brilliant "The Time Cavern" does exactly that. It's a thrilling journey through time that will mesmerize adults as well as children. Combining great characters (especially the two kids that drive the story), a wonderful setting, and fascinating background and scientific information, Fonesca has created a truly magnificent work that deserves to stand alongside other pioneers in the young adult genre. "The Time Cavern" is an absolute page-turner and one of the best I've read in recent memory.

Delightful, wholesome, and intelligent reading for young and not-so-young adults

I remain charmed and delighted after finishing Todd Fonseca's The Time Cavern. As other reviewers point out, this is the story of two youngsters, a brilliant boy who has recently relocated from the city to the country and an adventurous farm girl. Tom Sawyer-style, they embark upon adventures that lead them to very unexpected places. I don't want to reveal more of the story, though, given the title, it's no surprise that a time cavern is involved. It's a great read, and the ending is an amazing surprise. This isn't simply a sci-fi thriller, though both terms describe it. The author sets the tale in Amish farm country, unfamiliar territory to this reader. The gentle Amish culture provides a backdrop for the story, adding a haunting dimension. It's also farm country--more unfamiliar territory for me. The only thing I knew about corn was how to eat it; the story teaches us about threshing and combines and other rural mysteries as part of the farm cycle. Charming is the only word I can think of to describe this book. The Amish element, the two cute kids, their families, the old barn, and, of course, what they discover in the woods is a compelling blend. I'm looking forward to the sequel. The values dimension of this book must be emphasized. When I was in graduate school in counseling, we counselors-to-be would sit around with our professors and talk about the decline in social values that we saw in the mass culture around us. We'd wring our hands and moan, "What's it all about?" The state of mass culture has gotten more alarming since my school days. This book embodies personal health. It stars two bright, inquisitive kids from intact families. Both families have moms and dads devoted to strong and positive parenting. They know where there kids are. Or at least they try to: Those kids are a handful. The book weaves its spell with no violence, monsters, explosions, strong language--and not a single vampire! I'd recommend it to all YA fans and their parents. I enjoyed it thoroughly.

Time Travel so Good I Almost Forgot to Bring the Helium

UPDATE: There's a new edition of The Time Cavern available, from Ridan Publishing. Product reviews show for all editions, so if you're on the "old" page make sure to click through. The Time Cavern is a concise, well-written, and endearing story. It's highly suitable for young adult readers: it was mature and clever, yet not overly complex. As an adult, I also enjoyed the book quite a bit -- it reminded me of the Encyclopedia Brown books I used to read when I was a kid, where the hero won the day through intellect and keen observation. The story is one of exploration and friendship, as Aaron and Jake investigate the source of mysterious voices on the wind, and become entangled in the associated legend of an Amish boy who disappeared one hundred years ago. The story takes place in the quiet farmlands of Amish country, and Aaron learns about the Amish as he plays junior detective. The two friends' adventures are challenged by everything from the rural expansiveness of the country (how does a ten year old kid get all the way into town to look up a census report?) to various riddles involving chemistry, astronomy, mechanics, and history. While the plot might seem a bit obvious to an adult reader, there are definite twists to keep younger audiences enthralled. The characters are well defined and extremely likable, and reading the book invoked a feeling of tense exploration, just like what Aaron and Jake must have felt as they first entered the Time Cavern. In a nutshell: wonderful, creative, and inspiring! Character: 5 Creativity: 5 Plot: 4 Setting / Descriptions: 5 Entertainment: 5 Suitability to Audience: 5 Overall rating: 5 stars An additional note for time-travel enthusiasts (I'm one myself, having written my own time travel novel) -- the Time Cavern introduces us to what might just be the most original time machine concept ever - not to give anything away, but if you're a nut about time-travel, this is worth for that alone.